Stoney Creek tenants withhold rent to protest increase

It’s been roughly six months since nearly 100 tenants at Stoney Creek towers have been withholding rent, protesting what they call an unfair increase.

The landlord says the hike is needed to pay for necessary upgrades. On Thursday, both sides went up in front of a review board.

The protesters continue to stand strong in hopes of preventing a 4.8 per cent rent increase requested by CLV, the landlord group that runs the Stoney Creek tower complex near Eastgate Square.

“Those increasing costs are going to push these tenants out and displace them, because of the lack of affordability, the majority of people living in this complex are low income,” says the tenants’ lawyer Stephanie Cox.

The government allows for a 1.8 per cent rent increase, anything above that has to be applied for by landlords and only to cover major repairs, renovations, replacements, or additions.

“The landlord is requesting that they pay for costs that are general maintenance or that are cosmetic in nature,” says Cox.

Tenants say the focus should be on the inside of their homes and argue upgrades like new security cameras, LED lights, and paint are all maintenance costs.

The landlords argue they are following the city’s property standards with these renovations. Roseanne Holtman, who is representing the landlord, says the upgrades are justified. When they purchased the property it required considerable repairs and they are using the additional rent increase to recover those costs.

She says CLV wants residents to have well maintained, quality homes.

A decision on the rent increase will be made on Friday.